For its debut season in the competitive American series, the team directed by Fabio Pampado "promotes" from the EuroFormula Open the British champion and a talented Italian driver

Milan (Italy) - The new adventure in the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is getting closer for RP Motorsport Racing as they prepare to face a season full of exciting challenges in the competitive American series. After two excellent years in the prestigious World Series Formula V8 3.5, the team led by Fabio Pampado now aims to play a leading role in the series preparatory to the Verizon IndyCar Series, where the team will field two Tatuus PM-18 chassis powered by the Mazda 2.0 engine.

To conquer the American dream, RP Motorsport Racing has chosen two young and very talented drivers, both returning from experience gained during the 2017 season in EuroFormula Open in the ranks of the Italian team: Harrison Scott (21, from UK) and Lodovico Laurini (20, from Italy).

Scott is back from winning the title in EuroFormula Open after an amazing season. In 14 races, Scott conquered 12 victories and 11 pole positions, mathematically becoming the champion two weekends in advance of the season end. The results gave him a finalist nomination in the 2017 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award and earned him the prestigious BRDC "The Graham Hill Trophy."

Laurini will be the first Italian driver to compete in the U.S. championship. After a positive debut year in single-seaters, which saw him play a key role in allowing RP Motorsport to be included in the classification reserved for teams, the driver from Busseto (Parma) is ready to show off all his qualities on the demanding circuits that will characterize the 2018 calendar.

Harrison Scott (RP Motorsport Racing driver): "It's great to land in America and arrive in such an exciting context as the Pro Mazda Championship, a series that has launched so many young drivers over the years and I hope I can take with the team a lot of satisfaction. Last year was fantastic, but now we will have to start again with the same hunger of successes: we are aware that there will be a lot of work to do because everything will be new for us, but we are ready and determined to face this new challenge!"

Lodovico Laurini (RP Motorsport Racing driver): "Being able to race in America is a fantastic opportunity and for me it’s a dream that comes true. I have worked so hard over the last few years and this chance is an important step for my career. My main goal will be to grow further, gain valuable experience and learn all the new circuits, working hard day after day. Also being the first Italian to participate in this championship is another reason of pride, and I wish to thank RP Motorsport Racing team for the trust, my family and all those who support me in this adventure. I can’t wait to start!"

Fabio Pampado (RP Motorsport Racing team principal): "We want to face our first season in the Pro Mazda Championship in the best way and we have chosen two drivers that we know well and who will certainly be able to show off their quality. It will be a very exciting adventure: the championship has a wide visibility thanks to the partnership with INDYCAR, and being together with the new Tatuus chassis, the bearer of our country in this competition, makes us very proud. We know that the road will not be easy, but our team is ready to face this new challenge in the best way.”

After the first pre-season tests scheduled at Homestead-Miami Speedway at the end of February and at Barber Motorsport Park in early March, the Pro Mazda Championship season will begin on March 9th-11th at the St. Petersburg city circuit, coinciding with the inaugural weekend of the IndyCar Series. After the round at Barber Motorsport Park (April 20-22), the series will head to the most prestigious appointment of the season, scheduled on the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit from May 10-12, before the challenge on the Lucas Oil Raceway mini-oval on May 25th. Another weekend follows on a track full of history at Road America (June 22-24), before the Canadian trip to Toronto (July 13-15) and Mid-Ohio (July 27-29. The two final stages of the season will take place on August 24-25 at Gateway Motorsport Park and, just a week later, at Portland International Raceway.